We commissioned Dakare at Port Napoleon this year. Unfortunately for us, we discovered that Port Napoleon had moved Dakare from her original location on the hard to a new one, and in the process, they damaged our toe rail, windlass, furler and did some cosmetic damage to our pulpit. Port Napoleon did not deny that they did the damage but they also blew us off when they said "The damage to your boat is not our responsibility, it is yours." Since our return to Port Napoleon marina, we have discovered that there have been countless numbers of boats that have suffered the same fate. One boat was literally dropped onto a vertical piling and the boat now sits in a shed with a piling sticking through it - unfixed. Countless boats have experienced various levels of damage to their gel coat, rigging, etc. Our American friends on Thistle, Ed and Kathy, also suffered damage at the marina when they had their boat hauled to paint the bottom. By their account, in a reckless fashion, Port Napoleon hauled Thistle without ensuring that the crane straps were properly positioned and lifted the stern (not the bow) out of the water. The straps had been placed over their drive shaft and it was bent by the stress. The next day, the manager of the marina, as with us, denied any responsibility. It was only because Ed and Kathy had 2 witnesses that came to the office to testify on their behalf, that the manager finally conceded. This type of immoral behavior is unacceptable. We strongly advise cruisers not to go to Port Napoleon for any reason. Business at this marina has fallen 25%, while other marinas in the Med are suffering from overcapacity. The reason is obvious. Word has gotten out that Port Napoleon's business practices are horrible, the staff work is notoriously bad and there is great potential to damage your boat. Although they have and are making changes to their yard staff which appears to be ameliorating the problems, the management at Port Napoleon has now become the greatest liability. For those who are planning to go up the Rhone into the canals, we would suggest an alternative to Port Napoleon, The Navy Services just down the street. It is a yard within walking distance of Port Napoleon and it does not seem to suffer from the same bad quality of work or the dishonest and immoral management style.

All of the following reflects my beliefs, based upon my experiences at Port Napoleon. Readers are advised to formulate their own opinions.

IMHO: The newest problem at Port Napoleon

Some people have a serious lack of savoir faire. Such is the case with Maarten Berings, the manager at Port Napoleon. Unceasingly, he provides opportunities to cite so many examples of his lack of professionalism that I could fill up the Internet with case studies. To make my point, I'll choose one of the many.

Maarten Berings deliberately intervened and told a contractor to not begin work on our boat as the contractor was getting ready to come to our boat. Maarten Berings then (after he told the contractor not to go forward) came to us and told us that he told the contractor not to do any work on our boat until we paid our bill. We looked at him in total disbelief and utter astonishment... I told him that he didn't know what he was talking about and that we had already paid our bill - despite the fact that the marina had done approximately $4,000 dollars worth of damage to our boat and Maarten Berings would not repair the damage. So he wanted his additional slip fees of 1,200EU with no concern for the damage his marina did to us. Dumbfounded, he left, I assume, to go back to his office and speak with his staff. If Maarten Berings was any sort of manager, he would have done things in reverse order, not ass-ways backwards as he did.

The above is just one example of Maarten Berings lack of professionalism, lack of management skill and lack of integrity. To intervene and delay work with our contractor, erroneously, as he did, is unforgivable. Before accusing us of not paying our bill, and intervening with a contractor, he should have checked with his own office staff if the bill was paid. He did not! Maarten Berings sees things only through his myopic self-centered world and is ready to defame the character of his clients - unwarranted. Is this a manager? Is this professionalism? Maarten Berings never even had the courtesy to come down to our boat to see the damage for himself. Had he done that, and if he new anything about boats, which he is self-professed not to, he would have understood that the damage was caused by his staff when they failed to resecure our forestay properly. The picture should be coming clear, that if this is the way he treats clients, and it appears that he treats many clients in the same fashion, then Port Napoleon is not the place to be. Spare yourself the grief and don't go there!

Believe what you want... We are glad that we are out of there!!!

PS : For those of you who know Ed & Cathy on Thistle, their boat was also damaged at Port Napoleon while we were there. At first, Port Napoleon's management was disinclined to avow any responsibility for the damage even though they did it while hauling Thistle out of the water. It was only after Ed & Cathy were able to get witnesses that saw the marina damage their drive shaft during the haul out that Port Napoleon finally acquiesced to repair the damages. But it took a concerted effort to bring witnesses to the table and box Port Napoleon into a corner. It would appear that the strategy being employed is to deny any responsibility for damages (since there are so many boats being damaged) and let the victims bring a law suit against the marina, which, as they know, most cruisers are unwilling to do for a variety of reasons. So take advantage of the situation and screw your clients.

Special Thanks!!!

I would also like to thank Peter, the Port Napoleon Yard Manager for running interference for us with Maarten Berings, a difficult if not ugly task to say the least, and to Silvan from STM who kindly and gratuitously repaired the damage to our stainless steel after Maarten Berings denied any responibility for the damage done At least there are some bright lights trying to shine through the dim, dark fog that has settled there. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when Peter told Maarten Berings that he should pay for the damages to our boat. Peter had looked at our boat and discussed it with other yard staff. Thanks to Peter, we should have received about 1,000EU in reimbursements for the incurred damages, but Maarten Berings saw an opportunity to wiggle out of half of it and when we complained, he said "Take what I am giving you or I will give you nothing." So cheers to Peter for trying to help us. A shame for all at Port Napoleon that he ultimately has to report to Maarten Berings.

Paint Bottom

Grease Thru-hulls

Put on new bottom zincs

Clean & Grease prop, add new zinc

Replace Bow Thruster zinc

Replace house bank batteries and add new terminals

Wash & clean boat from lay-up

Load Nav software onto new HP notebook w Vista

Load Maptech charts onto new Nobeltec software (10.1)

Test Power Systems: Engine, Genset, Alternators & Inverter

Bend on sails

Launch boat

Check sea cocks & electric head

Get new teak toe rail for port bow damaged by Port Napleon

Repair damage to toe rail caused by Port Napoleon

Polish out SS damage caused by Port Napoleon

Test Electronic systems (RADAR, AIS, GPS, NAVTEX, WX FAX, SSB, etc.)

Test Refrigeration and Air Conditioner systems

Add refrigerant to AC Reefer

Install new versions of Airmail & Test, Program in new Telnet protocols

Test new battery bank

Ensure cockpit LCD is working with Vista computer

Reload OS on HP Desktop & reload Comm software

Order and install R2FX from Germany for APT Satellite reception

Recommission Wind Generator and Solar Panels

Testing of Northstar GPS revealed need to update Firmware for Sat reception

Clean cockpit cushions

Clean interior rugs

Stock up on supplies and consumables

Replace BBQ gas supply connector

Replace rubber feet protectors for SS deckware

Order new handheld GPS unit from West Marine and ship to Jane in USA